Sounds like there’s a hell of a lot of bad luck in this alpha line.
“Talon was too young to be alpha,” Jackson says. “But Leah put the burden on him, anyway. He was only sixteen at the time.”
“Was there any alternative?” I ask.
“There was,” Jackson says. “My own father stepped up to the task, but Leah would have none of it. Talon would lead us, and she convinced the entire pack to follow her decision.”
“It sounds like she commands great respect,” I say.
One of the older men looks up as if he’s about to say something, but he quickly puts his head down again.
“My father became Talon’s beta,” Jackson said. “Both of us served him and helped him in his difficult task. The problem with Talon is that he was too soft, too caring.”
A murmur of agreement sounds around the table, and Sara stares down at her plate as if she can barely keep her mouth closed.
“Terrible attributes for an alpha to have,” I say while thinking the exact opposite.
“Indeed,” Jackson said. “He cared so much about us; he became fearful of letting us run missions for supplies. He saw signs everywhere that the ancient evil was back, stalking us, and demanded we close the boundaries and stay within the town limit, even as resources began to dwindle.”
“And your father?” I ask. “What did he do about this?”
“He implored Talon to reconsider,” Jackson says. “In fact, he begged him to allow a few trained men to leave. But Talon refused. He was so afraid of losing even one person.”
“Tragic,” I say, hearing the falsehood in his voice. “Is that how you have come to where you are now, with so few resources?”
“It is,” Jackson agrees. “My father wanted to go further—to join us to the modern world, finally, to engage in trade, like the other packs, but Talon said it was too dangerous. He forbade my father to go, and said it would be an act of treason if he did.”
“That sounds extreme,” I remark.
“It was,” Jackson nods sagely. “And that is exactly why my father and two of his friends broke the rules and left. They did not return, and we believe, to this day, Talon had them killed.”
A loud clang next to me makes me jump, and I notice Sara has dropped her knife onto her plate. She glances up at me, and I can see she’s struggling to keep quiet.
I can’t wait to hear her side of this story.
“So, Talon went out and murdered them? Wouldn’t he have wanted to put them on trial if they broke the law?”
“That’s just it,” Jackson says sadly. “I think he was afraid to show the rest of the pack he was willing to go that far. He knew he was losing support, and executing anyone would have made it worse.”
None of this makes any fucking sense, but okay.
“Go on,” I say.
“Talon became convinced that we had to attack Eccles,” Jackson says. “He managed to convince the warriors and his mate that Eccles were responsible for their deaths, and we had to avenge them. That’s what led to the attack.”
Jackson looks away as if overcome by emotion. Murmurs echo around the table, coupled with somber expressions. I notice the older folk shaking their heads, but it isn’t clear if they are denying the story or agreeing with it.
“And I’m sure you were ready to take on the burden of leadership once Talon fell,” I say.
“Of course,” Jackson answers. “I did not want it, I never had, but I had already been filling in for Talon’s shortcomings for quite some time. The pack trusts me, you see. They depend on me.”
I bet they do.
Around the table, I see people nodding. Some actually smile at Jackson as if he’s the lord and savior.
You people have been trapped up here for too long!
“Well, I’m glad that I could come and take that burden from you,” I say. “Now you can remain a man of the people whileI hold the position of alpha and spare you the responsibility of command.”
